For the first half hour, the drive back to Portland was spent in relative calm. The fact that neither of them spoke probably had more to do with that than anything, and Parker chose not to destroy the peace, but as the miles flew by, the situation became more awkward. Unable to withstand the pressure any longer, she cracked. "I'm assuming Morgan told you about the training program."

She glanced across at Daniel's profile in time to detect a hint of a smile threatening to emerge from his stern exterior. A wave of heat rushed through her body.

God, I need to stop staring at his lips. This is disturbing, to say the least.

When her phone beeped, she breathed a sigh of relief for the distraction, and scanned the message.

"Tell me about your two prodigies," Daniel said.

She thought about the question for a moment, then shrugged. "Not much to say really. Both of them are good—very good—truth be told. It's just going to take a while to get them to a level where they can train others."

Parker replied to the message from Jay, and continued. "It's been interesting. Zeke's just turned twenty-two, so his wolf isn't mature. It wants out, but Zeke has an innate need to finish what he starts."

She twisted in her seat to face Daniel, a grin on her lips. "I sometimes walk into the lab and find him having a conversation with his wolf. They are forever negotiating. It's like listening to divorced parents arranging custody of the kids. Except in this case, it's for who's going to have custody of his body."

Daniel let out an amused chuckle. "I know what you mean. We have a bizarre relationship with our wolves. It takes years before we find the balance that suits both sides." He turned the air con dial up before continuing. "What does your firm do exactly?"

Parker settled into her seat and considered the best way to explain. "The work is different based on the client's needs, but, in a nutshell, we offer computer intelligence forensic services. Which is a fancy way of saying we track and analyze information hidden in computers, and help organizations stop the gaps in their security."

She glanced down at her phone. "My company works on anything from following money trails to finding discrepancies in accounts, and in some cases we track down people. We spend hours and hours finding the information, and then even more time pouring over data and interpreting it. Our clients come to us when they need us to find information they have lost or are after, or if they have information they want to keep behind locked doors."

Daniel checked the rearview mirror and readjusted his grip on the steering wheel. "How do the omegas fit into all of this?"

"Well, both Zeke and Jay have different skills. Zeke is, without question, our hacker. Jay, on the other hand, is brilliant at analysis. He can take seemingly unrelated information and form a connection to give it meaning."

"So, if they were both petty thieves, Zeke could break into anything, and Jay could then tell you what was worth stealing?"

Parker grinned. "Not bad. We just may get you into the twenty-first century yet."

"How have you dealt with the omega's needs? I get that it requires dedication and a lot of commitment, what I don't understand is how Zeke and Jay can get the job done effectively."

Parker bit the inside of her lip as she considered the question. "I don't assign them any jobs that require us to track down people. That type of work is mission critical, and I don't have the luxury of time. They get assigned the stuff that can be worked on piecemeal."

She furrowed her brow and attempted to find an alternate way of explaining how the arrangement worked. "It's simple, really, they work on the task until their wolves get antsy, and then they let them free. When they're ready, they return to work and continue on the project."

"With that kind of inconsistency, doesn't that mean they will never become skilled enough?"

She shook her head and smiled. She, Morgan, and Clara had spoken at length since taking on the two omegas, on this exact topic. "Hackers and developers are a complete subspecies. They exist on pizza, caffeine, and energy drinks. They're happiest when left in their own little world. Both Zeke and Jay are no different in that way. It's just that they can't be in that world for as long as the others. They will get there. It will just take them longer."

Parker pushed her glasses up onto her head. The slow progress to master this skill was something Morgan and the others had first struggled to come to terms with. "I think your problem is that you don't know how to fail. The professions you do take up, you excel in. You can do most things faster and more efficiently than your Human counterparts, but, when it comes to any of the sciences, you have shied away. It's these areas that require a commitment of time as well as mind—time that a young Werewolf can't possibly achieve in the same timeframe as a Human."

Daniel flicked the indicator on and sped up to overtake a slow vehicle. "Are you sure their wolves are coping with the restrictions you are placing on them?"

Parker sighed and settled back into her seat. She knew he was referring to an earlier disaster—one that put to rest any plans the Werewolves had of mastering technology that was now a part of everyday life.

"It took a little time for them to work out the right balance, but after a while, they developed compromises so that everyone was happy. Jay is older than Zeke, and I can already see the difference in the relationship with his other half. Jay's wolf is allowing him more time. Zeke's is still as demanding as a child. Either way it's working, and it's a win-win."

Parker's phone rang. Beth's name appeared on the dashboard monitor, but before she reached into her bag and picked up her iPhone, Daniel, who was attempting to turn down the radio, accidentally answered it.

She threw Daniel a look of exasperation and said, "Hi Beth, is everything okay?"

"Hey Boss, how's that sexy cousin of yours? Is Bobby's ass still as fine as I remember it?"

Parker cringed. She felt her cheeks burn red. "Beth, you're on speaker."

"And?"

She shook her head and rolled her eyes. She loved her PA to bits, but the girl had no common sense. "Nothing. What is it, Beth?"

"We have a problem."

Her shoulders tensed. I've been away less than a day. How could there be problems already?

Beth let out a deep breath. "Mr. Van Wyk wasn't too thrilled that you wouldn't be attending the gala tonight. I sorta...kinda...mighta said that you would try to make it."

Parker groaned and rubbed her forehead. "And why on earth did you say that?"

She cringed when Beth's high pitched "Uhhhhh..." hurt her ears.

This can't be good.

"Well..." Beth paused a moment before blurting out, "he mentioned that Peters and Mallory will be there. I may have said you were out of town meeting a new client, and that you would try to get back for it." Beth took another deep breath. "So how mad are you?"

Parker hit the back of her head on the headrest. "Shit, shit." Then for good measure added, "Shit."

"So, Boss, what do you want me to do?"

Parker looked at her watch and bit her bottom lip. "Okay, I'll be there, but I'll be late." She reached over to the dash and stabbed the end call button. "Shit."

"Why is the gala a problem?" Daniel said.

She rested her head and considered the ramifications if she did not attend. "Peters and Mallory are joint chairmen of a major client I have been after. They are impossible to track down. If I miss this opportunity, it may not come again."

Daniel nodded. "Okay."

Parker was thrown by his choice of words. "Okay, what?"

"Okay, we're going to this party."

"We are what now?" Her voice rose an octave. "You are going nowhere with me. When we get to the city, I'll drop you off at a hotel, and I'll arrange for you to meet the boys tomorrow."

"I don't need a hotel. I'm staying with you." Daniel, noticing Parker's gaping mouth, said, "You seem to forget, the council has decreed that you are to be monitored 24/7 until this is all over. Until I can put a team on you, that means me."

She closed and then opened her mouth to protest, but was cut off.

"Parker, don't argue with me. I always win. Am I clear?"

She snapped her mouth shut and folded her arms over her chest. She still had hours of being trapped in a moving vehicle with an arrogant alpha who, it appeared, always got his way.

Parker narrowed her eyes and lifted her chin. Well buddy, you're dreaming if you think I'll put up with your crap. I've got four hours to work out how to get the council to change their minds.

***

Daniel and Parker walked into the Kridel Grand Ballroom at the Portland Art Museum a little before nine p.m.

Daniel surveyed the richly appointed ballroom. I've got to hand it to Mallory and Peters. They know how to schmooze with the best of them.

He glanced at Parker and held back a smile. If her current mood was anything to go by, she wasn't going to take the news he knew the men she was here to see, well. As if on cue, Parker raised her chin and walked past him without saying a word. Daniel smirked as she failed to disguise her irritation at their close proximity. Even after an entire day in her presence, he still couldn't scent her state of mind, but was quickly learning how to push her buttons. He schooled his expression to be as neutral as possible as his gaze wandered over her for the hundredth time.

After arriving at her home and going for a quick run, he had showered, and changed only to be kept waiting while she did whatever women did when they got ready to go out. It was worth the wait. He replayed the moment she descended the stairs in a pair of black strappy high heels. His vision had fallen on a perfectly shaped calf emerging as she stepped through the sinfully long split in the floor-length black evening gown.

Unable to help himself, his gaze had continued upward, taking in the generous hips and small waist the figure-hugging dress enhanced. The man in him appreciated how the silky material clung to her breasts, hiding the perfectly shaped orbs from view.

He had almost dropped the glass of Scotch when she walked past him, and the back of her dress came into view. While the front was demure, the back was the complete opposite. Apart from two thin strips of material across her shoulder blades, the remainder of her back was bare, the material resting dangerously low across her waist and hips. His body responded as if set alight. The need to reach out and touch her, possess her, was all-consuming.

Her cool demeanor, and attempt to ignore him, brought him back to reality, and put him firmly in his place.

Daniel forced himself back to the present. He pushed his errant state of mind to one side as he reminded himself that in no way, in any universe, should he be having these thoughts—especially when it came to this woman. She was a means to an end. As soon as they had tracked the Wildfire culprit down, she would be out of his life for good.

He circled the ballroom, keeping an eye out for any threats, as Parker glided farther into the room in search of her team. Provided the noise levels did not become much louder, he should be able to listen in on her conversations. And, from his vantage point, he could see everything.

Parker had not wandered too far before an excited voice from within the crowd called her name.

Parker's irritated frown dropped as she turned toward the woman and broke into a warm smile. "Beth, sorry I'm late."

Beth squealed breathlessly as she stopped in front of her, grabbed her arm, and dragged her over to the rest of Parker's employees. "I thought you mightn't get here. I'm sure they thought I'd stolen my invite when I walked in the door. You'd have thought they'd never seen a colored woman in Dior before."

Daniel grabbed two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and raised an eyebrow at Beth's comment. From the subtle twitch of Parker's lips, she mirrored his thoughts. Neither her color nor her attire had anything to do with the looks she undoubtedly received.

This was confirmed a moment later when Parker said, "You might try toning down the purple hair. And a classic Dior cocktail dress doesn't normally get matched with bright pink gothic boots with more studs than the Golden Gate Bridge."

Beth shrugged. "I can't help it if they don't recognize class when they see it."

Parker shook her head, and her eyes crinkled. If her expression was anything to go by, she adored Beth, but it looked like the girl sometimes wore her patience thin.

He made his way towards Parker and her entourage.

Parker turned her focus on her small team, who were milling to one side of the ballroom.

A man with a ponytail and wearing an ill-fitting suit let out a wolf-whistle. "Hey Boss, looking rather nice tonight."

Daniel materialized at her side and placed a champagne flute in her hand. "Yes, she is, isn't she?"

Before he registered what had happened, Beth latched onto his right arm and beamed up at him. He couldn't help but balk at the radioactive hair. If it was possible, the color was even more vivid this close up.

Daniel fought off the urge to disentangle himself and take refuge behind Parker. The tiny woman was clearly used to getting her way. She looked like she wanted to eat him alive, and the way in which she touched him as she spoke left him in no doubt about what she was offering. Not only that, he smelled her intentions a mile off.

"And you are?" Beth said.

"Where are my manners? Daniel, this is Beth Winston, my PA," Parker said.

Daniel reassessed the small woman, and he remembered Morgan's parting words.

I can see why he warned me about you.

"Beth, this is Daniel Locke. He is..." Parker frowned as she trailed off.

Daniel, realizing Parker's dilemma, came to her rescue. "Your new client. Parker has agreed to take on a project for me, one that will require her to travel."

Parker wordlessly thanked him for the save as he shook hands with Beth.

To his relief, Parker then introduced him to the remainder of her team, allowing him to put some distance between himself and the aggressive PA.

From the moment he approached, he identified Morgan's omegas. Unfortunately, they had also recognized him and were now standing in a submissive position, staring at their shiny shoes, not sure how to proceed. Before their strange behavior was noticed by their colleagues, he stepped up to them and said in a low voice, "Relax, it won't serve your alpha or Parker if your behavior comes into question."

He then cleared his throat. "I understand that you both will be working on my project with Ms. Johnson?"

Zeke and Jay bobbed their heads in unison.

"I and the rest of the alp–board members are grateful for your help. I know it won't be easy." Daniel shook each of their hands in turn.

Zeke and Jay stood up straight, their earlier meek demeanor gone, and pride replaced their previous apprehension. Jay's face relaxed, and a small smile broke through. "We understand fully what is at stake, sir. We won't let Parker or you down."

He continued to make conversation with the omega's while still keeping an ear out as Parker mingled with her people.

Unaware he could hear her, Beth pulled Parker aside. "Parker, I know I demand you bring back souvenirs when you go away, but you have outdone yourself this time. He is yummy." She openly gaped at him. "Can I have him? Can I have him, please?"

Parker rolled her eyes. She glanced around the room as if looking for someone, but not wanting to make it obvious. When she ran her hands down her dress, he guessed she had found whomever she was after.

Before she left, she threw a cheeky grin at Beth. "Go for it. I'm not sure you'd know what to do with him, though. I hear he's an animal when he wants to be."

Daniel had to stop himself from laughing out loud at Parker's play on words.

He followed Parker's progress as she gracefully navigated the throng of guests and joined a small group on the far side of the floor. When she laughed at something the man next to her said, he looked closer and realized he knew the man she was talking to. Andrew Mallory, chairman of Trask Enterprises. Not liking how close they were standing, he made his excuses and strode across the room. As he drew nearer, the man looked up and smiled. "As I live and breathe, Daniel Locke. I thought it was you arriving with Parker. What brings you to these parts?"

He took Andrew's outstretched hand and shook it. "Andrew, it's been a while."

A small, smug part of him was pleased that Andrew believed Parker was with him. Why it made any difference was something he did not wish to explore. Too long without a woman was clearly affecting him—that was something he would need to rectify before things got out of control. Not only was Parker not his type, but she was a means to an end, and out of bounds.

"You're just in time," Andrew said. He indicated Daniel should join them. "We have been discussing an industrial espionage problem."

After the introductions were made, the discussion again turned back to business. Parker seemed astonished with the level of insight he had into the men's business. Daniel leaned toward her and placed his hand on the small of her back. "In case you're wondering, I sit on a number of boards with Mallory and Peters."

Parker's expressive blue eyes widened.

"What?" he said. "Did you think all I do all day is chase deer andargue with impossible women?"